January is always a good time to pick up some wholesome bargains, not least at Smallfish and Boomkat where you can snap up some real treats for not very much.
Ardisson - 'Hardware Handshake' (Seed) - Wicked glitched out 2-step bizness.
Frivolous - 'Midnight Black Indulgence 12" Sampler' (~Scape) - Sumptuous micro-house.
U.S.O.S - 'Groove In A Tent' (Headspace) - A nice deep house oddity from a few years back.
Jeff Samuel - 'Awt EP' (Spectral Sound) - Fine-ass bumping tech grooves from the master.
Geoff White - 'Ince' (Spectral Sound) - Deep and complex grooves.
Jirku-Judge - 'Watching You' (Onitor) - More of that clicky stuff, with some nice chords to boot.
Bitter Suite - 'Foot Note EP' (Friends & Families) - Quality deep house with oodles of soul.
Leo Cubanero - 'Wer Hat An Der Uhr Gedreht?' (Festplatten) - Quirky minimal clicks 'n' wobbles.
Radiq - 'Quadrille' (Logistic) - Rich and detailed 4/4 noodlings from Yoshihiro Hanno.
Dan Curtin - 'Album Sampler' (Headspace) - Awkward techno ramblings of the best kind.
Horror Inc. - 'Horrorama EP: The Remixes' (Revolver) - Bumping mixes of Akufen's side project from Dimbiman and Mike Shannon.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Whatever happened to my 4/4?
Nothing actually. I just realised I've been doing an awful lot of harping on about dubstep when there's been plenty of exciting things going on with house and techno. They may not be as young and hyperactive as dubstep but there's no shortage of great material still being produced since the minimal wave somewhat broke. It's just not as hip to talk about...
The Third Man - 'Clarion Call' (Ai Records) :
It surprises me that Ai isn't recognised more for it's greatness. Ever since it first appeared on people's radar the label has dispersed an almost flawless breed of electronic music that spans so many different pigeon-holes yet still retains that unique atmosphere that makes it an Ai record.
The Third Man carries the torch like he's been doing nothing else his whole life, mixing in splashes of classic electro, ambient and deep house and using the lot to paint an ethereal portrait of Detroit techno. The man undoubtedly takes his influence from the usual Motor City suspects (Carl Craig, Underground Resistance etc etc) but he manages to touch on so many classic points of reference and render them so richly, paying tribute rather than ripping off.
You can get 'Clarion Call' here
Kenny Larkin - 'Keys, String & Tambourines' (Planet E) :
One of the Detroit grandmasters that it has taken me ages to get round to, and this recent LP was the first time I'd been properly grabbed by his music. More than anything, this album is so much more fun than alot of "proper" techno full-lengths. Larkin uses the space to play around, taking much of his knack for detailed melodic business and applying it to some more unusual contexts.
There's a lovely broken beat stint on 'Vibin', some sublimely complex minimal techno such as 'Drone' and 'Bass Mode', quintessential Detroit house, creaky piano moments on the title track, but more than all these parts, Larkin has a crafty approach to composition, that certain indefinable kink that makes his tunes that little more unique.
Get 'Keys, Strings & Tambourines' here
Petre Inspirescu - 'Sakadat' (Vinylclub) :
You know a tune is special when it simultaneously rips through and resonates with an entire after-party of heads that have spent the entire night dancing to house and techno and should have been in bed a long time ago. By 9 in the morning the tunes are slipping past peoples ears without a hope in hell of getting a foothold anywhere, and yet this absolute beast has the power to command attention no matter what time is it.
Starting off fairly dry, the straight beat gets thrown off course by a snare hit so wilfully out of place you would think a mastering engineer with a vendetta would have put it there. As soon as it registers you can see people bouncing off the inconsistency of it, before it becomes the most crucial part of the track. Just as that feels normal, a completely mind-melting synth comes flickering into the mix, again sporting the kind of non-conformist rhythm that should have everyone giving up on their last attempt at dancing. Casually winding itself up into a frenzy without ever getting hectic, 'Sakadat' is a marvel in it's singularity, it's desire to be weird and most importantly its groove.
Get 'Sakadat' here
Other rather pleasant musicians :
Trackleton: A mysterious producer who may already have a distinguished career in house and techno. His debut EP for Andy Vaz's excellent Yore imprint is an absolute tour de force of classic, acidic grooves with lots of colour and upbeat energy to get the most stale dancefloor rocking. Keep an eye out for this one.
Sven Weisemann : Crafts some sumptuous deep house tracks, as blue as blue can be without being plain old miserable. Check his output on Mojuba and other labels, or catch one of his killer DJ sets. In fact he'll be playing at Bristol's finest destination for electronic goodies, Under_Score. March 7 is the date and The Tube is the place, and all reports suggest his selections veer from prime cuts of deep house through to warts 'n' all garage, with plenty of stops en route.
Stereociti : Has a single coming out on Mojuba shortly, his approach is decidedly deep. The single has a perfect balance between party pace and horizontal mood. Lots of tasty notes make this another example of why it's not always a bad thing to look back to the good old days.
The Third Man - 'Clarion Call' (Ai Records) :
It surprises me that Ai isn't recognised more for it's greatness. Ever since it first appeared on people's radar the label has dispersed an almost flawless breed of electronic music that spans so many different pigeon-holes yet still retains that unique atmosphere that makes it an Ai record.The Third Man carries the torch like he's been doing nothing else his whole life, mixing in splashes of classic electro, ambient and deep house and using the lot to paint an ethereal portrait of Detroit techno. The man undoubtedly takes his influence from the usual Motor City suspects (Carl Craig, Underground Resistance etc etc) but he manages to touch on so many classic points of reference and render them so richly, paying tribute rather than ripping off.
You can get 'Clarion Call' here
Moodymann - 'Freeki Mutha F cker' (KDJ) :
This is some essential Moodymann business here. I'm one of those people that flits around with Moodymann. Sometimes his tunes will hit me like no others, packed so full of loose, groovy soul and a rough-edged charm, and other times it gets a bit too loose for my tastes. This, however, is an absolute masterclass in pure, seedy sex music.
There's not much to the tune. A muted bass sample loops over endlessly, and a pint-sized beat ticks away in the background, but filling the void left by the rhythm section is Kenneth Dixon Jr. himself narrating his own peeping tom stint at the expense of the titular "freaky lil mama". He hits the tone just right - it is insanely creepy but with the briefest neon light let in by the occasional chord hits you can get completely immersed in the sordid late night vibe the man exhales.
There's some other good moments on the 'Det.Riot '67' double-vinyl release that dropped only recently, but nothing matches this for outright genius.
Most places seem to be sold out of copies of this bad boy so get over to Discogs and nab it there!
This is some essential Moodymann business here. I'm one of those people that flits around with Moodymann. Sometimes his tunes will hit me like no others, packed so full of loose, groovy soul and a rough-edged charm, and other times it gets a bit too loose for my tastes. This, however, is an absolute masterclass in pure, seedy sex music.
There's not much to the tune. A muted bass sample loops over endlessly, and a pint-sized beat ticks away in the background, but filling the void left by the rhythm section is Kenneth Dixon Jr. himself narrating his own peeping tom stint at the expense of the titular "freaky lil mama". He hits the tone just right - it is insanely creepy but with the briefest neon light let in by the occasional chord hits you can get completely immersed in the sordid late night vibe the man exhales.
There's some other good moments on the 'Det.Riot '67' double-vinyl release that dropped only recently, but nothing matches this for outright genius.
Most places seem to be sold out of copies of this bad boy so get over to Discogs and nab it there!
Kenny Larkin - 'Keys, String & Tambourines' (Planet E) :
One of the Detroit grandmasters that it has taken me ages to get round to, and this recent LP was the first time I'd been properly grabbed by his music. More than anything, this album is so much more fun than alot of "proper" techno full-lengths. Larkin uses the space to play around, taking much of his knack for detailed melodic business and applying it to some more unusual contexts.There's a lovely broken beat stint on 'Vibin', some sublimely complex minimal techno such as 'Drone' and 'Bass Mode', quintessential Detroit house, creaky piano moments on the title track, but more than all these parts, Larkin has a crafty approach to composition, that certain indefinable kink that makes his tunes that little more unique.
Get 'Keys, Strings & Tambourines' here
Aaron-Carl - 'Crucified (Quantec Remix)' (Millions Of Moments) : 
This tune has been around for about a year now, but it can't be passed over. I'm definitely into Quantec and the wider school of dub techno, but even it's biggest fans will be the first to tell you how it all sounds the same. Quite what makes it so appealing when it is arguably more generic than trance? Maybe it has something to do with the insane amount of delay and reverb that a simple chord gets, becoming a monolithic soundshape that you can almost feel rinsing through your head. It's nothing if not soothing.
Anyway, I digress. This remix of a classic Aaron-Carl tune takes the best element of dub techno (i.e that chord) and pares it down slightly to pulse under a real heartbreak of a vocal, a real soul job with not a diva tone in earshot. It's an absolute gem of a tune, one that can't fail to reach you if you have even an ounce of liking for deep, emotional electronic music.
Get 'Crucified' here
This tune has been around for about a year now, but it can't be passed over. I'm definitely into Quantec and the wider school of dub techno, but even it's biggest fans will be the first to tell you how it all sounds the same. Quite what makes it so appealing when it is arguably more generic than trance? Maybe it has something to do with the insane amount of delay and reverb that a simple chord gets, becoming a monolithic soundshape that you can almost feel rinsing through your head. It's nothing if not soothing.
Anyway, I digress. This remix of a classic Aaron-Carl tune takes the best element of dub techno (i.e that chord) and pares it down slightly to pulse under a real heartbreak of a vocal, a real soul job with not a diva tone in earshot. It's an absolute gem of a tune, one that can't fail to reach you if you have even an ounce of liking for deep, emotional electronic music.
Get 'Crucified' here
Petre Inspirescu - 'Sakadat' (Vinylclub) :
You know a tune is special when it simultaneously rips through and resonates with an entire after-party of heads that have spent the entire night dancing to house and techno and should have been in bed a long time ago. By 9 in the morning the tunes are slipping past peoples ears without a hope in hell of getting a foothold anywhere, and yet this absolute beast has the power to command attention no matter what time is it.Starting off fairly dry, the straight beat gets thrown off course by a snare hit so wilfully out of place you would think a mastering engineer with a vendetta would have put it there. As soon as it registers you can see people bouncing off the inconsistency of it, before it becomes the most crucial part of the track. Just as that feels normal, a completely mind-melting synth comes flickering into the mix, again sporting the kind of non-conformist rhythm that should have everyone giving up on their last attempt at dancing. Casually winding itself up into a frenzy without ever getting hectic, 'Sakadat' is a marvel in it's singularity, it's desire to be weird and most importantly its groove.
Get 'Sakadat' here
Other rather pleasant musicians :
Trackleton: A mysterious producer who may already have a distinguished career in house and techno. His debut EP for Andy Vaz's excellent Yore imprint is an absolute tour de force of classic, acidic grooves with lots of colour and upbeat energy to get the most stale dancefloor rocking. Keep an eye out for this one.
Sven Weisemann : Crafts some sumptuous deep house tracks, as blue as blue can be without being plain old miserable. Check his output on Mojuba and other labels, or catch one of his killer DJ sets. In fact he'll be playing at Bristol's finest destination for electronic goodies, Under_Score. March 7 is the date and The Tube is the place, and all reports suggest his selections veer from prime cuts of deep house through to warts 'n' all garage, with plenty of stops en route.
Stereociti : Has a single coming out on Mojuba shortly, his approach is decidedly deep. The single has a perfect balance between party pace and horizontal mood. Lots of tasty notes make this another example of why it's not always a bad thing to look back to the good old days.
Monday, January 26, 2009
New tips
Here's some nice treats that are gathering on the grapevine ready to be plucked very soon...
Martyn - Great Lengths (3024)
The hotly anticipated Martyn album is about to drop, and everyone's getting mightily excited about it. I had the privilege to be working in the mastering studio where it's being cut and I can tell you it's worth the wait. All the elements you'd expect from the man are present, with a few new sides to his productions showing their faces. Some nice vocal turns pop up on a couple of tracks too. It should be out and about very soon.
Pangaea - Bear Witness / Mosaix (Hot Flush)
Another killer 12" from the Hessle Audio main man, these two cuts deliver everything you want from Pangaea - smoky atmospheres, rocksteady grooves and some careful use of melody. Mosaix in particular is a hot tip, with a killer double bass turn.
Untold - Sweat / Dante (Hot Flush)
And Hot Flush strike again with this absolute beast. Sweat is packed full of texture and light, with some gorgeous 303 bass at work around an intricate riddim, whilst Dante takes a more classic garage feel with some choice vocals scattered about the place.
Martyn - Great Lengths (3024)The hotly anticipated Martyn album is about to drop, and everyone's getting mightily excited about it. I had the privilege to be working in the mastering studio where it's being cut and I can tell you it's worth the wait. All the elements you'd expect from the man are present, with a few new sides to his productions showing their faces. Some nice vocal turns pop up on a couple of tracks too. It should be out and about very soon.
Pangaea - Bear Witness / Mosaix (Hot Flush)
Another killer 12" from the Hessle Audio main man, these two cuts deliver everything you want from Pangaea - smoky atmospheres, rocksteady grooves and some careful use of melody. Mosaix in particular is a hot tip, with a killer double bass turn.
Untold - Sweat / Dante (Hot Flush)
And Hot Flush strike again with this absolute beast. Sweat is packed full of texture and light, with some gorgeous 303 bass at work around an intricate riddim, whilst Dante takes a more classic garage feel with some choice vocals scattered about the place.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Where's my step at?
Of course 2008 was a year of immense evolution in the world of dubstep. From the early treat of 2562's 'Aerial' LP on Tectonic to the final crushing moments of Skull Disco, from Martyn sprinkling his midas touch all over bumping beats to the emergence of Hessle Audio, the bassweight sound finally moved out from under the over-bearing slow D&B womp to become a truly diverse and exciting genre.
Anyway, here's a round-up of some hot cuts that have been wobbling me recently:
Pangaea - You & I / Router (Hessle Audio) - sublimely deep 2-step shenanigans from one of the hottest stables in the UK. The vocal is the perfect dose of soul amidst the icy rhythmic vibrations. Exciting and singular music from a producer that hasn't released nearly enough music yet.
Spatial - 70810 / 80207 (Infrasonics) - Taking the principles laid out by the Hessle Audio crew and running with them, this late entry into 2008 came out of nowhere and surprised everyone. Ultra-minimal (to the point where if it was techno it would be dull as f*ck) beats criss-cross each other to devastating effect with funky 2-step as the weapon of choice. Some carefully plotted Detroitian chords nip in and out of ear shot but this is all about the riddim. Watch out for more seismic movements from this stealthy producer.
Ramadanman - Day
rider / Core (Soul Jazz) - With a sound that seems to be ever-broadening, you could half expect David Kennedy's production identity to be getting lost somewhere along the way, but this is undoubtedly the work of the man. Keeping the same considered beats but letting a little colour seep into the two sides of this 12", the emotion pours out of the speakers without ever over-stating it's presence. A glittering example of electronic soul.
P.S You'd be mad to miss the impending Ramadan' release on Appleblim's Applepips label. 'Humber' is an absolute doozy of a tune, all skipping beats and sumptuous notes. If that wasn't enough it comes backed with a Sven Weisemann remix as well.
Kontext - Falling To Weightlessness (Immerse) - A truly encouraging release on the increasingly unmissable Immerse imprint (one of the less championed exports of Bristol). Made up of two 12"s, there is a wider scope than just techy-dubstep or dubby-techno at work here. While these elements may drive the vibe of the EP, the feeling of classic ambient electronica a la Boards of Canada is prevalent throughout the release. Broader horizons can only ever be a good thing as this past year has shown the dubstep scene, which brings us neatly to the next choice...
Mount Kimbie - Maybes (Hot Flush) - I've always loved Hot Flush for keeping the dubstep deep and emotive long before people considered using downtempo chords instead of distorted bass, but this release sees them completely eschew the dancehall for some moving introspections that are nothing if not unique. A real organic heart palpitates at the centre of the four tracks, with the air of mystery and intrigue that only the best electronic music can offer.
Forsaken - Hypnotised / Fighting Spirit (Immerse) - Another hit for Immerse, which has admittedly been around for a while but only now comes to my attention. Another hit for Bristol too, as Forsaken shows the path to spirituality in bass music doesn't have to be complex. Gentle use of live instrumentation here, a soulful vocal hook there, and you get some truly anthemic stuff.
Other notable movements come from the likes of Telegraph. While you'd never expect the French micro-house institution to be tapping into dubstep, nevertheless you can hear a bona-fide bin-busting workout on the end of an impending S-Max EP. I posted here before about the German freak-tech maestro's new found love for the bass (see the Dubsquared Radio post) but now he's gone and slipped an absolute belter underneath the 4/4 communitys nose. Keep your eyes peeled for 'BOOM_paraSD' on the 'Ep part. 2' release, which makes up a double pack of prime time S-Max funk.
Another stealthy (or, as a friend would describe him, slippery) operative is Sutekh. Never one to play ball when it comes to his output, you'll never be sure whether you're getting twisted sound sculpture studies or grooving glitch-house. Upon returning to his mighty 'Elephant & Obelisk' EP (released at the end of 2007 on Orac) I was surprised to discover an absolute belter of a dubstep tune in the shape of 'Ubu Rex'. Chucking a whole lot into the blender (doesn't he always) you get rich electro synth stabs, broken rhythm and some tasty bass.
And lastly there's a remix about to pop up on the Sideshow EP 'If Alone' (Aus Music). The original is a respectful take on classic reggae soul, with Rhythm & Sound legend Paul St. Hilaire crooning his honey-coated lyrics straight into your head and lodging them there. Appleblim and Komonazmuk join forces for a remix of epic proportions, kicking off with an energising 4/4 thud and plenty of reverb and delay at play like any good dub techno. Capturing the essence of loved up dance music that got so tainted throughout the nineties, the vibe is one of unity and positivity, before the guitar led breakdown cools your heels, only to see them snapped back into action with a break so hefty as to make you weep. A beautifully simplistic remix that just knows where to aim for a direct hit.
Anyway, here's a round-up of some hot cuts that have been wobbling me recently:
Pangaea - You & I / Router (Hessle Audio) - sublimely deep 2-step shenanigans from one of the hottest stables in the UK. The vocal is the perfect dose of soul amidst the icy rhythmic vibrations. Exciting and singular music from a producer that hasn't released nearly enough music yet.
Spatial - 70810 / 80207 (Infrasonics) - Taking the principles laid out by the Hessle Audio crew and running with them, this late entry into 2008 came out of nowhere and surprised everyone. Ultra-minimal (to the point where if it was techno it would be dull as f*ck) beats criss-cross each other to devastating effect with funky 2-step as the weapon of choice. Some carefully plotted Detroitian chords nip in and out of ear shot but this is all about the riddim. Watch out for more seismic movements from this stealthy producer.
Ramadanman - Day
rider / Core (Soul Jazz) - With a sound that seems to be ever-broadening, you could half expect David Kennedy's production identity to be getting lost somewhere along the way, but this is undoubtedly the work of the man. Keeping the same considered beats but letting a little colour seep into the two sides of this 12", the emotion pours out of the speakers without ever over-stating it's presence. A glittering example of electronic soul.P.S You'd be mad to miss the impending Ramadan' release on Appleblim's Applepips label. 'Humber' is an absolute doozy of a tune, all skipping beats and sumptuous notes. If that wasn't enough it comes backed with a Sven Weisemann remix as well.
Kontext - Falling To Weightlessness (Immerse) - A truly encouraging release on the increasingly unmissable Immerse imprint (one of the less championed exports of Bristol). Made up of two 12"s, there is a wider scope than just techy-dubstep or dubby-techno at work here. While these elements may drive the vibe of the EP, the feeling of classic ambient electronica a la Boards of Canada is prevalent throughout the release. Broader horizons can only ever be a good thing as this past year has shown the dubstep scene, which brings us neatly to the next choice...
Mount Kimbie - Maybes (Hot Flush) - I've always loved Hot Flush for keeping the dubstep deep and emotive long before people considered using downtempo chords instead of distorted bass, but this release sees them completely eschew the dancehall for some moving introspections that are nothing if not unique. A real organic heart palpitates at the centre of the four tracks, with the air of mystery and intrigue that only the best electronic music can offer.
Forsaken - Hypnotised / Fighting Spirit (Immerse) - Another hit for Immerse, which has admittedly been around for a while but only now comes to my attention. Another hit for Bristol too, as Forsaken shows the path to spirituality in bass music doesn't have to be complex. Gentle use of live instrumentation here, a soulful vocal hook there, and you get some truly anthemic stuff.
Other notable movements come from the likes of Telegraph. While you'd never expect the French micro-house institution to be tapping into dubstep, nevertheless you can hear a bona-fide bin-busting workout on the end of an impending S-Max EP. I posted here before about the German freak-tech maestro's new found love for the bass (see the Dubsquared Radio post) but now he's gone and slipped an absolute belter underneath the 4/4 communitys nose. Keep your eyes peeled for 'BOOM_paraSD' on the 'Ep part. 2' release, which makes up a double pack of prime time S-Max funk.
Another stealthy (or, as a friend would describe him, slippery) operative is Sutekh. Never one to play ball when it comes to his output, you'll never be sure whether you're getting twisted sound sculpture studies or grooving glitch-house. Upon returning to his mighty 'Elephant & Obelisk' EP (released at the end of 2007 on Orac) I was surprised to discover an absolute belter of a dubstep tune in the shape of 'Ubu Rex'. Chucking a whole lot into the blender (doesn't he always) you get rich electro synth stabs, broken rhythm and some tasty bass.
And lastly there's a remix about to pop up on the Sideshow EP 'If Alone' (Aus Music). The original is a respectful take on classic reggae soul, with Rhythm & Sound legend Paul St. Hilaire crooning his honey-coated lyrics straight into your head and lodging them there. Appleblim and Komonazmuk join forces for a remix of epic proportions, kicking off with an energising 4/4 thud and plenty of reverb and delay at play like any good dub techno. Capturing the essence of loved up dance music that got so tainted throughout the nineties, the vibe is one of unity and positivity, before the guitar led breakdown cools your heels, only to see them snapped back into action with a break so hefty as to make you weep. A beautifully simplistic remix that just knows where to aim for a direct hit.
Re-Cap - the wonderful world of electro...
OK so there has been something of a time-lag in updating the ole blogger, so it's only right to dip into some of the music that's been flicking all sorts of switches over the last few months.
One of my main fascinations has been proper genuine home-fried electro like momma used to make. Everything from some fairly cringeworthy 80s nonsense up to the Drexciya related Detroit darkness. Out of a whole lot of Last.FM'ing and general digging (and some choice reccommendations) I've unearthed these particular favourites:
Dopplereffekt:. Having heard their wobbly behemoth 'Calabai You Space' on Rephlex I did somewhat pigeon-hole these guys into the loose, un-groovy side of electro. Then I heard the 'Gesamtkunstwerk' retrospective LP and that all changed. Completely stripped bare electro that speaks volumes with so little and piles the funk on heavy - this ticked so many of my boxes I had to get a new red pen. The whole sequence of tracks ooze an 80s dystopian vision of the future so cold and robotic, yet ultimately so alluring. Maybe it's something about that stern female narration, maybe it's just the freaky synth hits, but this is erotic machine music. Also check out Elecktroids for more future electro goodness, with a slightly warmer approach.
Video for Dopplereffekt: Scientist (different version to the one on Gesamtkunstwerk)
Maggotron:. This is proper vintage fodder, full of synths that ape Kraftwerk, dramatic string-synth hits, vocoders, and songs about intergalactic missions to bring the boogie to distant planets. 'Mission Electro'? I think so...
'Welcome To The Planet Of Bass'
Egyptian Lover:. You can't fail to love Egyptian Lover. On one level he's a hilarious example of everything that was bad taste about the 80s, on another he knows how to wrangle some serious funk out of a drum machine, and then to cap it all off he's prepared to stand there and talk about being a Freak-A-Holic while rocking the kebab-shop owner look, and positively rip it out of himself. Sometimes you just don't want music that takes itself seriously (least of all when it comes to 80s electro funk).
Classic video for 'Freak-A-Holic'
World Class Wreckin' Cru:. The stomping ground of Dr Dre in his formative years, you can't find a better snapshot of early 80s hip hop, when it essentially meant the same as electro. Many of the same hallmarks (minor keys, punchy basslines, token scratches) make groups like these a dime a dozen in the old-skool field, but they stood out for me for pure attitude. Check 'He's Bionic' and try telling me Dre got better with age...
'Surgery'
Zapp / Roger:. This is where taste really gets pushed to the limit. You know you shouldn't but who can help but get their freak on a little when 'More Bounce To The Ounce' gets on the boombox? The man did have funk by the absolute bucketload, and he wasn't afraid to do something as unforgivable as absolutely butchering Marvin Gayes classic 'Heard It Through The Grapevine'. It almost makes me love him more. Almost.
Sketchy video for 'I Can Make You Dance'
Computor Rockers:. One of the highlights of Ed DMX Krew's Breakin' stable, these guys completely carry the torch for classic electro. In fact they have hardly altered the blueprint at all, but seem to apply modern production tricks in the same way that the kids were fucking with synthesisers and drum machines back in the day. Good, simple, groovy fun times.
'Nuclear Vibrations'
Twilight 22:. I only know two tracks by this crew but lordy are they heavy! On top of
particularly sick electro grooves you get tough socially conscious rap that brings to mind classic Run DMC. Mix in a light dash of eastern meoldies and you have a completely bizarre but utterly brilliant slice of 80s classic. Check 'Electric Kingdom' and 'Siberian Nights' for some serious future-shock!
'Electric Kingdom'
One of my main fascinations has been proper genuine home-fried electro like momma used to make. Everything from some fairly cringeworthy 80s nonsense up to the Drexciya related Detroit darkness. Out of a whole lot of Last.FM'ing and general digging (and some choice reccommendations) I've unearthed these particular favourites:
Dopplereffekt:. Having heard their wobbly behemoth 'Calabai You Space' on Rephlex I did somewhat pigeon-hole these guys into the loose, un-groovy side of electro. Then I heard the 'Gesamtkunstwerk' retrospective LP and that all changed. Completely stripped bare electro that speaks volumes with so little and piles the funk on heavy - this ticked so many of my boxes I had to get a new red pen. The whole sequence of tracks ooze an 80s dystopian vision of the future so cold and robotic, yet ultimately so alluring. Maybe it's something about that stern female narration, maybe it's just the freaky synth hits, but this is erotic machine music. Also check out Elecktroids for more future electro goodness, with a slightly warmer approach.Video for Dopplereffekt: Scientist (different version to the one on Gesamtkunstwerk)
Maggotron:. This is proper vintage fodder, full of synths that ape Kraftwerk, dramatic string-synth hits, vocoders, and songs about intergalactic missions to bring the boogie to distant planets. 'Mission Electro'? I think so...
'Welcome To The Planet Of Bass'
Egyptian Lover:. You can't fail to love Egyptian Lover. On one level he's a hilarious example of everything that was bad taste about the 80s, on another he knows how to wrangle some serious funk out of a drum machine, and then to cap it all off he's prepared to stand there and talk about being a Freak-A-Holic while rocking the kebab-shop owner look, and positively rip it out of himself. Sometimes you just don't want music that takes itself seriously (least of all when it comes to 80s electro funk).
Classic video for 'Freak-A-Holic'
World Class Wreckin' Cru:. The stomping ground of Dr Dre in his formative years, you can't find a better snapshot of early 80s hip hop, when it essentially meant the same as electro. Many of the same hallmarks (minor keys, punchy basslines, token scratches) make groups like these a dime a dozen in the old-skool field, but they stood out for me for pure attitude. Check 'He's Bionic' and try telling me Dre got better with age...
'Surgery'
Zapp / Roger:. This is where taste really gets pushed to the limit. You know you shouldn't but who can help but get their freak on a little when 'More Bounce To The Ounce' gets on the boombox? The man did have funk by the absolute bucketload, and he wasn't afraid to do something as unforgivable as absolutely butchering Marvin Gayes classic 'Heard It Through The Grapevine'. It almost makes me love him more. Almost.
Sketchy video for 'I Can Make You Dance'
Computor Rockers:. One of the highlights of Ed DMX Krew's Breakin' stable, these guys completely carry the torch for classic electro. In fact they have hardly altered the blueprint at all, but seem to apply modern production tricks in the same way that the kids were fucking with synthesisers and drum machines back in the day. Good, simple, groovy fun times.
'Nuclear Vibrations'
Twilight 22:. I only know two tracks by this crew but lordy are they heavy! On top of
particularly sick electro grooves you get tough socially conscious rap that brings to mind classic Run DMC. Mix in a light dash of eastern meoldies and you have a completely bizarre but utterly brilliant slice of 80s classic. Check 'Electric Kingdom' and 'Siberian Nights' for some serious future-shock!'Electric Kingdom'
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Future Jazz par excellence!
Since bagging the rather lush 5 x 10" box set of the Innerzone Orchestra LP 'Programmed', I've been kicking myself repeatedly for not having discovered such an immense album in all the time I've been burrowing my head into music full throttle. There are so many different vibes that emanate from each record side, and having it split across 5 bits o' wax really helps appreciate this.
I'll admit now to being a newbie as far as the real Detroit heritage goes. It's only recently that I'm finally starting to understand and appreciate Carl Craig (having rinsed out 'The Album Formerly Known As...' yesterday). There's a mental check-list of names I need to take the time to discover fully (Jeff Mills, Underground Resistance, Kenny Larkin, Derrick May, Theo Parrish etc.) but to hear 'Programmed' and hear the lines truly blur between jazz and techno and everything that exists between them was pretty monumental for me. Having heard the way people postulate about Detroit techno and all it's intricacies, I was yet to realise the vision so many of these producers have for myself.
So if you get a chance to pick up this album do - it's prime-time grade A home listening bliss, perfect to warm your bones while the weather goes to shit.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Back from the store...
In textbook music geekery fashion I am currently (metaphorically) rolling around in a pile of delightful records picked up from a quality second hand store on the binternet. Here's a list of the treats that I snagged:
Innerzone Orchestra (aka Carl Craig & friends) - Programmed (5 x 10" box set mmmmm)
Moodymann - I Can't Kick This Feeling When It Hits / Music People (12")
Baby Ford - Normal (inc. AFX Helston Flora Remix hell yes!) (12")
Neil Landstrumm - Pro Audio (2 x 12")
Pole - 45/45 (12")
Tim Wright - The Searcher / The Walk (12")
Super_Collider - It Won't Be Long (12")
Stefan Goldmann - The Schnich Schnach EP (12")
Alton Miller - EP (12")
John Tejada & Justin Maxwell - 2 Speaker Dream (12")
Carl Craig - Science Fiction (12")
Move D - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (12")
Radioactive Man - Dive & Lie Wrecked (12")
Murcof - Utopia Remixes (with the immense Sutekh remix :) (12")
Nice to get a few classics for a change!
Innerzone Orchestra (aka Carl Craig & friends) - Programmed (5 x 10" box set mmmmm)
Moodymann - I Can't Kick This Feeling When It Hits / Music People (12")
Baby Ford - Normal (inc. AFX Helston Flora Remix hell yes!) (12")
Neil Landstrumm - Pro Audio (2 x 12")
Pole - 45/45 (12")
Tim Wright - The Searcher / The Walk (12")
Super_Collider - It Won't Be Long (12")
Stefan Goldmann - The Schnich Schnach EP (12")
Alton Miller - EP (12")
John Tejada & Justin Maxwell - 2 Speaker Dream (12")
Carl Craig - Science Fiction (12")
Move D - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (12")
Radioactive Man - Dive & Lie Wrecked (12")
Murcof - Utopia Remixes (with the immense Sutekh remix :) (12")
Nice to get a few classics for a change!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Picking up Sine Waves
Producer of the week for me is Todd Sines. He's notched up an impressive series of releases over the years for the likes of Carl Craig's Planet E, veteran label Peacefrog, Andy Vaz's new vintage imprint Yore, and to my mind he is one of the most visionary 4/4 artists out there.His sound can lurch from crisp, minimal funk jackhammers under the .Xtrak name to the deepest sensual house aimed squarely at the bedroom, but it all has an unmistakable leftfield bent to it. Experimental isn't the right word for his tunes, they simply breathe a life of their own, too addictive to be academic and too weird to be popular. Anyway, here's the Click-Wobble picks from the Sines back catalogue.
Todd Sines & Natacha Labelle - 'Overlap' [Planet E] - Seductive vocals, downtempo blue keys and a ever-so-slightly jerking rhythm make this an absolute winner.
Todd Sines & Natacha Labelle - 'Broad_Band' [Frankie] - Every track on this EP is a belter, whether it's the underwater electro funk of 'Thick Satin' or the moody haze of 'Elastic'.
Cron - 'Interrupt' [Chair] - Deep, sparse electro from one of Todd's aliases. A real hypnosis job.
.Xtrak - 'Don't Stop' [Yore] - After more than ten years leaving his .Xtrak moniker lying dormant, Todd resurrected it for Yore and packed a serious old skool punch with the tracks that resulted. Razor-sharp hi-hats, snares that sound like tiny controlled explosions and plenty of acid.
There's heaps more out there to discover, but this should give you somewhere to start. For a surprisingly large amount of free tracks check out his website: Toddsines.com
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